Ocean Ridge To Buy Land For Town Hall

OCEAN RIDGE — With property negotiations with Boynton Beach at a standstill, town officials are considering the purchase of privately owned land adjacent to Town Hall for its expansion.

Town commissioners approved by a 4-1 vote on Monday the purchase of a half-acre lot at the southwest corner of the building. The property, which could be developed as a parking lot, costs $130,000. With its small Town Hall sitting on a 37-foot strip, Ocean Ridge has been anxious to acquire property to expand.

Ocean Ridge now uses Boynton Beach's south lot for parking.

Thorny negotiations to either buy the Boynton Beach lots or trade them for an oceanfront park owned by Ocean Ridge have been stalled since July 1997.

Town officials and residents would like to increase office and storage space for Town Hall and the Police Department, build another parking lot and a public recreation center.

Commissioner George Stamos, concerned that the property is two-thirds mangroves, opposed buying the land without some long-term planning.